Hays Arts Council opens summer class registrations; camps added

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Children create sculptures in a HAC ceramics class last summer. File photo

The Hays Arts Council has opened registration for its summer art programs.

The HAC has many repeat classes however, Creativity Camps are new this year offering four half-days of activities, including painting, drawing, crafts and sculpture.

A mid-morning or afternoon snack will be offered depending on the session. Camps are offered from 1 to 5 p.m. June 3-6 and July 22-25 for children 8-12. Additional courses will be offered from 9 to 11:45 p.m. July 22-25 for children 6-8.

Cost is $48 per child per session.

Camps will be at the Hays Arts Center Annex, 1010 Main St., Hays.

“Kids who love art will love spending four days in a row making nothing but art for four hours,” said Brenda Meder, HAC executive director.

Meder said the HAC tried to time the camps so they would work well with parents’ schedules.

“The main thing I like about it, quite frankly, is that parents that have to work and cannot be jumping in and out of their day — they just don’t have that liberty — I am hoping that is who this will serve best. You can drop your child off on the way back from your lunch break, and you don’t have to pick them up again until 5.”

“Pop Art” POW! is also new this year. Children will explore the style of Andy Warhol and comic books with bright colors and humor. The children will be drawing and painting and exploring design.

For children who want a shorter experience, the HAC will offer four One-Day Wonders for children 6-12. These include Summer Fun on Monday June 24, Flower Power on Tuesday, June 25, Beads and Bangles on Wednesday, June 26 and Red, White and Blue on Wednesday July 3. Costs range form $12 to $14. Times and dates vary. Check the HAC website for more details.

Call of the Wild is back again this year with the aid of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. These are two-day experiences in which children learn about snakes, turtles, frogs or lizards. They will meet live Sternberg animal ambassadors and then create art based on what they have learned about their new animal friends.

“We went with all the things we have done in the past that have just gone over so well,” Meder said. “Really all our classes are pretty nice and broad in their focus, so the kids get a variety of creative elements unless it is very specific like photography or ceramics.

“Some of the one-day things are a little bit more craft oriented, but it gives the kids a chance to be creative and to be painting and to be gluing and to be cutting and just be exploring artistic materials and mediums and seeing what they come up with.”

For older children, the HAC offers more focused classes, including photography, stained glass, theater, wheel-thrown pottery and ceramics.

See a complete list of classes below or view the class list on the HAC website. Class space is limited. The HAC regularly updates the website when classes are full. You can also call the HAC at 785-625-7522 or email Meder at [email protected] for more information.